Improvement in spice-boxes



A. nrmznn. sPIc-E-B'ox. No.18'3.555. Patenteaxoct; 24 187e.

uuunlA OOOGGOOGOOO 0001500000060 Qoo'oooooooonn N. PETERS.PHOT0-LITHOGRAPMER, WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoEo AUcUsTUsB'. EEAZEE, 0E oINoI-NNATI, oEIo, AssIeNoE or ONE-HALE Ins EIGHT TooAsIMEE WEEK, 0E sAME PLAcE.v

IMPROVEMENT IN SPICE-Boxes'.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 183,555, dated October24, 1876; application led May 29, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS B. FRAZER,

of Cincinnati, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful 1mprovementsin Spice- Boxes, of which the followingis a specilication:

My spice-box consists, essentially, of a sheet- `metal can or box of theusual cylindrical shape, and provided with two detachable heads, caps,or lids capable of being readily removed when it is desired to chargethe box with various kinds of spices or condiments. Of these two caps orlids, the lower one is preferably animperforate one, and is applied tothe nutmeg receptacle or division of the box, which di vision is formedby a horizontal partition locatedl about one-third or one-fourth of thedistance from the lower end of the can. The upper cap, lid, or cover isperforated over about one-half of its area, while the other portion ofits surface is solid. This lid is capable of being rotated so as topermit optional sprinkling or dredging from either of two longitudinalchambers, of which one may be filled with salt and the other one withpepper or other inely-pulverized spices that are frequently used. Thesetwo distinct longitudinal chambers are formed by avertical partition orplate that extends from the upper end of the box down to thepreviously-described horizontal partition, and by simply rotating theupper cap, so as to bring its perforated portion in communication witheither the right or the left chamber, salt or pepper can be dischargedfrom the box. The inner side of this lid is furnished with a stop thatimpinges against the vertical partition, and thereby limits the rotationof said lid. Finally, the box has disposed longitudinally of one of itssides an external grater for nutmegs and similar spices.

All of the above description is given in order that the generalconstruction of the box may be fully understood; but my inventionconsists in the peculiar construction hereinafter more specificallypointed out in the claim.

Figure l is a' perspective view of my improved spice-box with both ofits lids detached.

pulveriziu g Fig. 2 is a vertical section at the line X X with both ofthe lids applied to the box. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the boxat the line Y Y. Fig. 4 is a plan showing the under side of ,the toplid.

A represents a sheet-metal can or box of any convenient length anddiameter, and provided. near its ends with beads B B', beyond whichextend the necks IC O. 0f.- these necks, the lower one, C,is adapted tohave applied to it the imperforate cap D, which covers a cylindricaldivision or receptacle, E, for containing ungrated nutmegs or otherspices or condiments that require pulverizing before being fit for thetable or for culinary purposes generally. This receptacle E is formed bysoldering within the box A a solid disk-shaped partition, F, whichpartition may be located at any suitable distance from the lower end ofthe can. Resting upon the upper surface of this disk is a vertical plateor partition, G, that extends up to the top of box A, and divides thelatter into two equal or nearly equal segmental chambers, H and I, ofwhich the former may be used for salt and the latter for pepper. Thesetwo chambers are concealed by a single lid, J, that is applied to theneck C in such a manner as to have a comparatively free rotation aroundthe same, while at the same time there is no danger of the lid beingaccidentally detached from the box. One-half of this lid is solid orimperforate, as at K, while the other halt', K', is pierced withnumerous small apertures.

Projecting downward from the under side of the lid J is a` stud, pin,flange, or stop, L, which limits the rotation of said lid, both to theright and left. Applied longitudinally of and alongside the exterior ofspice-box A is a grater, M, of any approved construction and material.Presuming that the chambers H and'I have been filled respectively withsalt and pepper, and it is desired to make use of the former condiment,.the lid J is rotated around the neck C to the left until the mouth ofthe chamber I is completely closed by the solid portion K of said lid,at which moment further rotation of said lid is arrested by the stop Lstriking against partition G. This act effectually prevents the escapeof pepper from the division I, while vat the same time the salt is freeto be sprinkled out through the perforations K', which perforated partof the lid now covers the chamber H.

To use. the deviceas a neppelf-box.` a half-1` rotation of the lid to.the right, is madeor un; til the stop again strikes against thepartjtion Gr, which act reverses the previous posifl n of the lid, andcauses its blank portion K to cover chamber H, while its perforatedportion K( allows pepper to be sprinkled out from the chamber I. For useas a grater, the cap Dis temporarily detached, a nutmeg or other spiceis taken out of division E, and then reduced` to a commiuuted conditionby rasping ii'f against the roughened surface M, the powder thusproduced being free to descend in the chamber formed between said graterM and the outer surface of box A.

In this specification, whenever the words top and bottom and right andleft are employed, they are to be `understood as being mere relativeterms .used for convenience of descripton as it is evident either end ofthe box may be considered the top of the device.

If preferred, the cap D maybe perforated, and the division E chargedwith flour, in which case the lower end of the boxrcan be employed as adredger, whileat the same time the grater one shown at L, and said cap,together with the one D, may be tted to their appropriate f necksy inany convenient manner. "The" salt?u chamber H; may be of somewhatgreater capacity than the adjoining chamber I.

I claim as my invention- A spice-box, consisting of a cylindricalvessel, A, closed at bottom at F, and furnished with two segmentalchambers, H and I, and a rotary lid', 1having'the, stop L, which lid issolid at K and perforated at K' to permit the contents of one of saidchambers being discharged While the contents of thc other chamber areretained, substantially sa hangin de. scribed.,

AUGUSTUS B. Fit-MEE.

Attest.: Y

